Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

Despite Senator MacSharry's lack of Irish, his enthusiasm and passion for the issue is evident. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Senator for raising this issue as it affords me the opportunity to outline the position with regard to the staffing schedule for gaelscoileanna for the 2011-12 school year.

The standardisation of the staffing schedule for gaelscoileanna, so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally, is one of a number of measures introduced in budget 2011 to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes became effective on 1 September 2011. The school referred to by the Senator now has the same pupil thresholds as ordinary national schools for the appointment and retention of mainstream classroom teachers. Given the financial constraints in which this country now finds itself, it is not possible to reverse these changes. The gaelscoileanna movement is well established and I do not believe that the growth of gaelscoileanna will be impeded by way of this measure.

This change in the staffing schedule has resulted in an overall reduction of the order of 50 posts in gaelscoileanna. There are currently more than 1,500 teaching posts in these schools.

The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as far as possible. However, this must be done within the context of bringing overall public expenditure into line with what we can afford as a country. All areas of expenditure, including funding for gaelscoileanna, must be managed on a reduced level of resources. The challenge will be to ensure the resources provided are used to maximum effect in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for pupils.

Under the revised staffing schedule for gaelscoileanna, Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Ballydoogan, County Sligo, was allocated a staffing of a principal and five mainstream classroom teachers, based on its reduced enrolment of 166 on 30 September 2011. While mainstream staffing for any school year is based on the previous September's enrolment, there is a provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The school in question was allocated two additional mainstream posts on developing grounds, based on a projected increased enrolment for 30 September 2011. The school has now informed the Department that it has not achieved its projected increased enrolment and the posts have therefore been suppressed with effect from 4 November 2011.

It is open to any board of management to submit an appeal under certain criteria to an independent appeal board. Details of the criteria for appeal are contained in the staffing schedule, circular 0019/2011, which is available on the Department's website. The appeal board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

On the issue of accommodation, Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré is currently located in rented accommodation at St. Mary's GAA club, at a cost of €131,922.54 per annum, which is grant aided by the Department at a rate of 100%. A reconfiguration of the temporary accommodation was approved in 2009, providing a purpose-built two-storey, modular and temporary unit in addition to the clubhouse accommodation at St. Mary's GAA club.

An application for a new school building was received from the school authorities in March 1999 and assigned a band rating of 2.2, in accordance with the Department's published criteria for prioritising large-scale capital projects, which are available on the Department's website. The progression of all large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered. Their progression is contingent on the availability of funding within the Department's multi-annual school building and modernisation programme and the competing demands for this funding. However, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the particular project at this time.

I understand fully the frustration of boards of management, teachers and parents when a school is given an allocation which is subsequently withdrawn through no fault of the school. Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, in which we are relying on the generosity of others, resources are limited.